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It’s arguably the most boring launch ever for the iPhone.

You got that right. I have an iPhone 8+ with a cracked corner and barely audible speakers. I'll go get myself an iPhone 13 sometime in the next couple of months because, essentially, my iPhone is close to broken. But there's certainly no "must have" feature I see. I have no idea why anyone with an iPhone 10 through 12 would bother upgrading from a functional perspective.

What I would have liked to see is the LiDAR rolled into the base 13 model this year. That would have been a compelling upgrade as a future-proof technology to get. As it is this tells me mainstreaming of 3D photography and more useful AR is still probs a ways off anyway.
 
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I am coming from the XS Max. Will be really nice to get the upgraded cameras with OIS and Sensor Shift stabilization, and Night Vision. More battery life is good too.

But otherwise, not that excited....phones are just iterating and functionally they work the same year to year. I would keep my XS Max for another year except I can pass on my XS to my kid who's itching to upgrade from a 6.
 
I hear that. Just by waiting a few weeks you can check out the models in the store, really think about it, read and watch reviews and when ready, go buy it like a normal person. This pre-order hype is ridiculous. Apple is REALLY good at creating this sense of urgency and making your current phone feel like an ancient piece of s4it that needs to be replaced ASAP, even though its one year old.

Having said that, I did reserve a 13 mini for saturday pick-up. :)
If you’re happy with that it’s awesome! A latest greatest new iPhone is ALWAYS a treat. For me, I wish it was as thrilling as it used to be but I’m about ready to just dive into a “real” camera instead and hold off the “relatively” non compelling upgrades.
 
I don’t think anyone “forgot” to order the 13, hence the still remaining availability. It’s arguably the most boring launch ever for the iPhone.

What made the iPhone 12 (Pro) launch more exciting? Beyond the squared edges, I don't recall major differences to the 11. At this point in the overall smartphone era, it's foolish IMO to expect/see major innovation year over year.
 
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While I’ll still enjoy the excitement from others and agree that it’s indeed fun, rewarding and happy-hormones filling buying the latest tech, car, toy, etc whether needed or just as a reward splurge… I heard this week from a podcaster an interesting take on this.

Taking “the store” to its literal meaning: instead of buying and hoard stuff, let the store keep those things in there for you (i.e storage), for free, and you go only pay to take it when you absolutely need it. Else, it will be there, potentially indefinitely. Suddenly, your house will become quite big and full of free space, since the store is storing it all.

Nevertheless, fun times. Hope you all get the one you were aiming for… either now or whenever it comes in stock.

EDIT: typo, clumped paragraph
That’s a very healthy, wealthy approach to things! I realize all companies push sales but inciting greed and unnecessary consumption is just plain unhealthy for every buyer and seller and investor involved. The world is changing and we will soon look back and see these gross excesses of production and consumption for the moral cancer and planetary exploit they truly are. Posting huge numbers and market share and ROI is so vein and frankly vulgar. It’s better for companies to exist to benefit society rather than exploit people through profit-driven excesses made possible via masterful industrial, financial and social engineering.
 
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You got that right. I have an iPhone 8+ with a cracked corner and barely audible speakers. I'll go get myself an iPhone 13 sometime in the next couple of months because, essentially, my iPhone is close to broken. But there's certainly no "must have" feature I see. I have no idea why anyone with an iPhone 10 through 12 would bother upgrading from a functional perspective.

What I would have liked to see is the LiDAR rolled into the base 13 model this year. That would have been a compelling upgrade as a future-proof technology to get. As it is this tells me mainstreaming of 3D photography and more useful AR is still probs a ways off anyway.
You’re prob right. The technologies are embargoed & trickled out incrementally and marketed to ensure maximum annual sales and profit cycles. It’s 100% contrived. I’m convinced what we have as mainstream is ridiculously behind the true level of technology.
 
What made the iPhone 12 (Pro) launch more exciting? Beyond the squared edges, I don't recall major differences to the 11. At this point in the overall smartphone era, it's foolish IMO to expect/see major innovation year over year.
It was the bigger sizes, camera functions, of course going back to square edges, and the AR in the back of the camera.
 
I had a look for a blue Mini in the UK and all my nearest Apple stores have it for Friday. Never seen that before. I believe Apple put in a significantly bigger order this year - perhaps that explains it.
I looked for a blue max but it said check availability from 24/09?
 
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No stores in Sydney have any pros for pick up except Charlestown which is like bush land (no offence it’s about 120kms from city)

this article is kind of weird. I know we pro apple but an article this big on how to order.. like what is apple paying you guys. I would hope that someone with $2000 for a phone knows how to place an order online.
 
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Get your tents, camp chairs, plenty of snacks, chargers, and choice of headphones everyone, it's time to start the campout /s
 
Apple defo seems to be having supply chain issues - or something screwy's going on. My wife's 13 Pro 512GB in blue initially said Sept 24th, now Oct 6th. My 13 Pro Max 1TB in gold says Oct 6th - 11th.

Visitor Park says they'll have the 13 Pro 512GB on Saturday the 25th. Supes glad we pr-ordered, so we can get our phones a week to two weeks after they're actually in-stock in stores... 🙄
 
I’m trying to preorder for pickup in store but it just says “currently unavailable”. I don’t see an option to change the pickup date. Does that mean my local stores won’t have stock?
 
this is what puzzles me... both of my nearest Apple Stores still have every color and every storage capacity of iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 available for pick up on launch day.... how is that possible?
All of mine only have the higher storage versions available.
 
I'm still waiting for mine to ship shows as next week, although I think I was one of the first to preorder before the website was even live (UK)
 
The good old days, still remember the guy from Australia who waited a week only to open it and drop it on live tv 🤣🤣


I felt sorry for that guy and remember that video clearly. He was rushing under pressure to open it on the spot in the middle of the street with the cameras filming him.
 
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I used to always pick mine up, but it’s a pain with the upgrade program because you have to trade in your phone when you pick up the new one. It works better for me to wipe the old phone at my leisure & send it back.
 
Allright I call BS on the new story now, Tuesday I bought an iPad mini 6 for one of my boys and when I pulled the trigger I had an option of all times throughout the day for local pick up but I chose a time after they got out of school for same day pick up. I was messing around with iPhone 13 pros, for opening weekend estimate and had availability all day as well.

fast forward to right now and I want to buy ANOTHER iPad mini 6 and now the pick up option is disabled only letting me get delivered, can’t believe Apple pull the COVID card on us now, no local news on the city that I have seen relate to increased cases but now if I want one I have to wait 4 weeks. Doesn’t matter if it’s an iPad or iPhone local pickup in my city has been completely disabled which leads me to suspect it was their plan all along.

oh well sucks for my other boy but that’s what he gets for not taking care of his previous iPad 🤣🤣

In short, Tuesday I was able to place an order for store pickup, Thursday it’s telling me now that any order I place has to be delivered 😒
6CF261C6-7D8D-4C52-B99A-C03E6A8C871A.png


I just checked two local new sites with headlines blatantly stating a “downward” trend in new COVID cases 🤷‍♂️
 
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Allright I call BS on the new story now, Tuesday I bought an iPad mini 6 for one of my boys and when I pulled the trigger I had an option of all times throughout the day for local pick up but I chose a time after they got out of school for same day pick up. I was messing around with iPhone 13 pros, for opening weekend estimate and had availability all day as well.

fast forward to right now and I want to buy ANOTHER iPad mini 6 and now the pick up option is disabled only letting me get delivered, can’t believe Apple pull the COVID card on us now, no local news on the city that I have seen relate to increased cases but now if I want one I have to wait 4 weeks. Doesn’t matter if it’s an iPad or iPhone local pickup in my city has been completely disabled which leads me to suspect it was their plan all along.

oh well sucks for my other boy but that’s what he gets for not taking care of his previous iPad 🤣🤣

In short, Tuesday I was able to place an order for store pickup, Thursday it’s telling me now that any order I place has to be delivered 😒View attachment 1841389

I just checked two local new sites with headlines blatantly stating a “downward” trend in new COVID cases 🤷‍♂️
I got the same thing, but when I had a case in my cart I could schedule that for in-store pickup. Could be they don't have the inventory for you to pick it up? I'm going to try again tomorrow to see if they have any iPhone 13 Pro Max for in-store pickup. I'm not in a rush, per se, but I don't want to wait a month. lol
 
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It looks like they have stopped allowing us to see stock ahead of launch. Now (at least for the model I want here in the USA) it just says:
”Pick up:
Check availability starting 9/24”
Does anyone know when this will unlock on 9/24 and start showing availability? Midnight west coast time? Local store opening time?
 
So what's the likelihood that I'll be able to walk into the Apple Store tomorrow and pick up a 13 Pro Max? I didn't preorder because I only buy unlocked iPhones and I want to trade in my 12 Pro Max to offset the costs.

Apple's website is telling me I won't be able to check stock until tomorrow.
 
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